Michael Francklin orFranklin (6 December 1733 – 8 November 1782) served asNova Scotia'sLieutenant Governor from 1766 to 1772. He is buried in thecrypt ofSt. Paul's Church (Halifax).
Born inPoole,England, Francklin immigrated toHalifax, Nova Scotia in 1752. He worked as a trader and merchant, initially in association withJoshua Maugher.
DuringFather Le Loutre's War, Michael Francklin was captured by aMi'kmaw raiding party in 1754 and held captive for three months in which he learned the Mi'kmaw language and developed an appreciation for native culture.[1]
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Francklin represented Lunenburg County from 1759 to 1760 and Halifax County from 1761 to 1762 in theNova Scotia House of Assembly.
In May of 1762, he was named to theNova Scotia Council.
In the early 1770s, he was responsible for bringing about theYorkshire Emigration. He also played an important role in assisting the return ofAcadians after theExpulsion of the Acadians by guaranteeing Catholic worship, land grants and a promise that there would be no second expulsion.
He established the Shubenacadie reserve in 1779.[2]
On February 7, 1762, Francklin married Susannah Boutineau (b. 1740). Susannah died at Windsor, Nova Scotia, April 19, 1816 in her 76th year and is buried at theOld Parish Burying Grounds. She was the daughter of Joseph and Susannah (Faneuil) Boutineau, and granddaughter of Benjamin Faneuil.[3]
Susannah and Michael had the following children:[3]
On the 8th of November, 1782, while arranging with several of the Indian chiefs, about winter supplies of blankets and clothing, in his office on Granville St., just north of the Army and Navy Depot; he suddenly and without a moment's warning expired in the 62nd year of his age, deeply regretted by every citizen of Halifax. He was given a grand public funeral which took place on the nth of November, 1782, and was buried in St. Paul's in a vault at the left of the altar. Over 200 Indians followed his coffin to the church, chanting the death song of the MicMacs. His funeral and the chanting of the Indians was long remembered in Halifax, and among the stories of the olden time in our city, there was no description more vivid or interesting than the weird wail of the savages, as they at his burial mourned their friend and protector.
The Francklin's long made their chief home at Windsor, and were among the most active supporters of the Anglican Church in that town. Lieutenant-Governor Francklin gave the land for the parish church (Christ Church) and churchyard at Windsor, and Mrs. Francklin gave, April 28, 1801, an acre of land opposite the church for a parsonage, and in 1815 a complete set of service books, including a handsomely-bound folio Bible, for use in public worship.[3][4]
Endnotes
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.Texts
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia 1766-1776 Served under:Lord William Campbell andFrancis Legge | Succeeded by |
| Governors at Annapolis Royal (1710–1749) | |
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| Governors at Halifax (1749–1786) | |
| Lieutenant governors of Cape Breton Island (1784–1820) | |
| Lieutenant governors of Nova Scotia before responsible government (1786–1848) | |
| Lieutenant governors between responsible government and Confederation (1848–1867) | |
| Post-Confederation (1867–present) | |
Lieutenant governors who served in the absence of governors are listed in parentheses. Acting administrators are listed initalics.  Nova Scotia portal | |